Fire hydrant and valve therefor



April 18, 1961 A. F. GRANT ET AL 2,930,125

FIRE HYDRANT AND VALVE THEREFOR Filed July 18, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 T I 5 I70 /62 1:. 2

2 \II'III /45 65 g 22 I 22 gi lumn /5 I lw/ifin 23 23 U 4 4? 40 I49 ALLEN E GRANT I flea JOHN R FULHAM 22 v we] INVENTORY /73 HUEBNER & WORREL l3 ATTORNEYS 23 April 1961 A. F. GRANT ET AL 2,980,125

FIRE HYDRANT AND VALVE THEREFOR Filed July 18, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .5 nlh 22 4 ALLEN E GRANT JOHN E FULHAM /NVEN7'ORJ HUEBNER & WORREL 147' 7' ORNE KS FIRE HYDRANT AND VALVE THEREFOR Allen F. Grant, 831 N St., Fresno, Calif., and John P. Fulham, Box 1102, Mariposa, Calif.

Filed July 18, 1958, Ser. No. 749,413

8 Claims. (Cl. 131-68) The present invention relates to an improved fire hydrant and more particularly to a valve especially adapted for use in a fire hydrant.

A conventional fire hydrant usually includes an elongated tubular conductor embedded in the ground having a lower end connected to a water main for supplying waterunder pressure to the hydrant and an upper end extended upwardly above the surface of the ground, a barrel releasably connected to the conductor and upwardly extended from the ground and providing a discharge hose connection, a valve connected in the conductor or the barrel having open and closed positions for permitting or blocking passage of water upwardly through the hydrant for discharge outof the hose connection, and a control rod rotatably mounted in the barrel and connected to the valve for opening and closing the same incident to rotation. v

The hydrants in general use today have several disadvantages and in particular in relation to the Valves employed. Certain valves are subject to leakage inasmuch as their valve heads frequently fail to seat properly or are difficult to seat. Others provide a multiplicity of links, and the like, directly in the fluid path reducing the flow and creating turbulence; and still others are easily damaged, as by twisting, when the hydrant is struck from above. Prior to the subject invention, hydrants were not available which gave adequate protection against flooding. This has especially been true of those hydrants which operate with the barrel full of water under pressure when the valve or valves is closed. Flooding, of course, usually occurs when the hydrant is broken at the top by impact from an automobile; truck, or other vehicle. Such accidents occur so often as to make'this problem one of consequence. Further, no previous hydrant was known which automatically closed when the barrel was broken with the valve open except those which may have vertical or flapper type check valves added to the main hydrant barrels below the ground level. However, these have not always operated satisfactorily. For example, the recess usually provided for sucha flapper check valve may be overgrown by barnacles or tubercles causing the valve to stick. Also, these valves even when functioning properly set up surges in the water lines creating water slams and hammers. This may damage the water line and adjacent pipe joints and valve connections. In addition, in order tov service the prior available hydrants, it is the usual practice to shut on the main gate States Patent "ice The subject invention is intended to solve these and other problems in connection with fire hydrants. However, it is to be noted that the valve structure described herein has utility in other environments although it was primarily developed for use in a fire hydrant.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improvements in a fire hydrant.

Another object is to obviate the flooding by a fire hydrant incident to breakage thereof.

Another object is to provide a fire hydrant which is adapted for use both in cold and warm climates.

' Another object is to provide a fire hydrant whose parts are easily accessible even though buried relatively deeply in the ground; 1

Another object is to provide an improved valve particularly adapted for use in a fire hydrant.

'Another object is to provide a valve for a fire hydrant which is easyto close and to open even when working in fluid under high pressure.

Another object is to provide a fire hydrant valve which seats tightly to provide a dependable seal.

Another object is to provide a valve especially for a fire hydrant which minimizes leakage and avoids explosion under high pressures.

Another object is to provide a valve which minimizes turbulence in, and frictional resistance to, the flow of fluid through and around the valve.

Another object is to provide a fire hydrant which protects its valve against damage when the hydrant is broken or struck from above the ground.

. Another object'is to provide a valve for a fire hydrant which automatically closes when the hydrant is broken.

7 These, together with other objects, will become more fully apparent 'upou reference to the following description and accompanying drawings.

Inthe drawings:

'Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a fire hydran't broken away in the middle to shorten for illustrative convenience and showing a valve of the present invention in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary longitudinal vertical section of a portion of the hydrant of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a somewhat enlarged horizontal transverse section taken on a plane through the hydrant at a position represented by line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a somewhat enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal section taken through a portion of the hyvalve in the water main which may be some distance from drant and valve of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal transversesection taken on a plane through the hydrant at a position represented by line 5--5 of Fig. 4.

.Fig. 6 is a horizontal transverse sectionv taken on a plane through the hydrant at a position represented by line 6-6 in Fig. 4. r Fig. 7 is a horizontal transverse section taken on a plane through the hydrant at a position represented by line 7-7 in Fig. 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, a fire hydrant embodying the principles of the present invention is generally indicated in Fig. 1- by the numeral 10. A tubular conductor 11 is embedded in the ground 12 and provides a. lower end adaptedifor connection to a water main, not shown, but carrying waterunder high pressure for delivery to the hydrant. Inasmuch as the details. of this conductor and the specific manner of delivering water to the hydrant do not constitute a particular part of the present invention,.they are'not described in further detail. Obviouslythe conductor could be straight or curved as desired. However, it is tobe noted that the conductor has an upper radial flange 13.

The hydrant includes a fluid valve 18 buried in the ground 12 and providing an elongated outer barrel-shap s housing 19 coaxial with the conductor 11 and a cylindrical end portion 20 having a radial flange 21 connected to the flange 13 by means of bolts 22 and nuts 23. The housing is shaped so that after dirt is tarnped around the same at the time of installation, downward creep or movement of the housing is minimized. As a result, the portions of the hydrant are not placed under strain due to movement of the valve, or other parts of the hydrant or water main, not shown, after the entire hydrant has been installed.

The valve housing 19 also has a cylindrical outlet end portion 30 which is internally threaded, an upper radial flange 31, and an intermediate portion 32. The intermediate portion is of uniform diameter centrally thereof and this diameter is greater than the diameter of either the inlet end portion 24]- or the outlet end portion 30. However, the intermediate portion provides opposite ends inwardly convergently tapered along smooth curves to the inlet and outlet end portions of the housing.

The valve 18 also includes an annular valve seat 36 screw-threadably connected in the outlet end portion 30 and having a plurality of upwardly opening Wrench sockets 37. An elongated inner streamlined, substantially torpedo-shaped body 39 includes an inlet end core 40 having an upper hollow annular section 42 and a lower substantially solid conical section 43 integrally coaxially extended from the annular section. Webs 46, rigidly interconnect the annular section 42 of the core to the housing 19 so that the body is disposed concentrically within the housing. This reinforces the housing and increases the transverse strength and rigidity thereof. The core has an outer surface of revolution 47 in substantially uniformly spaced relation to the housing throughout its length. Further, the conical section of the core extends endwardly of the housing toward the inlet end portion 20 and provides an apex 49 slightly extended into the inlet end portion. The conical section of the core also has an internal socket 51 disposed concentrically of the housing, and a bearing 52 is fitted into the socket. Still further, the conical section has a plurality of passageways 54 establishing fluid communication between thehousing and the annular section. These passageways allow fluid to enter the core for a purpose to be seen and also for keeping the core free end clean of sand, dirt, and the like.

An elongated valve-positioning control rod or stem 60 is coaxially extended within the housing 19 and includes a lower cylindrical mounted end 61 rotatably received in the bearing 52, a frusto-conical valve head engaging end 62 divergently endwardly extended toward and coaxially positioned substantially within the valve seat 36, a threaded section 63 intermediate the mounted and engaging ends, and a substantially rectangular male lug 64 endwardly projected from the engaging end.

Ears 79 are rigidly connected internally to the annular section 42 of the core 46 and substantially diametrically extended inwardly toward the control rod 6! An annular guiding bracket 71 circutnscribes the rod and has a hub 72 screw-threadably connected to the thread section 63, a bracket plate 73 rigidly radially outwardly extended from the hub, pairs of spaced parallel legs 75 rigidly connected to the bracket plate and downwardly extended therefrom toward the inlet end portion 20 of the housing 19 in axially slidable straddling relation to the ears. Further, gussets 76 rigidly interconnect the legs and the bracket plate for reinforcing the legs.

The valve 18 includes an annular base plate 80 positioned on the upper surface of the bracket plate 73 and releasably connected thereto by means of bolts 81 and nuts 82. An annular rigid ring 84 is connected to the base plate and upwardly extended therefrom in circumscribing concentric relation to the-controlrod 60 and is for a purpose to be described. It is also to be noted that the base and bracket plates are substantially coincident with each other.

A valve head provides a body 90' of resiliently flexible and compressible material, preferably neoprene, includes a base 91 coincident with and secured by any convenient means to the base plate 80, an outer rounded, generally spherical or dome-shaped surface of revolution 92, an internal frusto-conica-l wall 93 circumscribing the control rod 60, divergently upwardly extended toward the engaging end 62 of the rod, and circumscribing a central bore for the valve head and an apex 94. It is also to be noted that the inner wall of the valve head and the valve head engaging end of the control rod 60 are complementary to each other for interfitted engagement as will be seen. The internal wall of the valve head has a plurality of longitudinally spaced annular grooves 96 outwardly upwardly extended therein and providing, as a result, a plurality of annular wedging flaps 97 extended generally inwardly and downwardly with respect to the control rod.

It will be evident that the ring 84 is embedded in the body 90' of the valve head 90, is longitudinally extended so as to encompass the flaps 97, and divides the body into an inner portion 100 and an outer portion 101. For reasons to be apparent subsequently, the inner portion of the valve head is made of relatively soft material while the outer portion is of relatively harder material. It is to be understood, however, that the material of the valve head is the same general type throughout, such as neoprene, but merely has diflerent hardnesses in the inner and outer portions, as described. More specifically, when neoprene is used, it is preferable that the inner portion is from sixty-five to seventy Shore hardness whereas the outer portion preferably is from ninety to one-hundred Shore hardness.

The valve head 90 is adapted for movement between a seated position with the outer surface 92 thereof in fluid-tight engagement with the valve seat 36 incident to rotation of the control rod 60 in a predetermined direction and a fully retracted position with the valvehead longitudinally spaced from the seat and the bracket plate 73 rested on the core 40. The position of the control rod in the housing, the connection of the valve head thereto, and the relationship and shape of the parts insures self-centering and alignment of the valve head with the seat. It will be evident that the cooperation between the legs 75 and the ears 70 also permits axial movement but precludes rotatable movement of the valve head.

Further, as the valve head is moved toward seated position, the flaps 97 progressively and successively engage the end 62 of the control rod and freely slide thereover. However, the flaps yieldably resist slidable movement of the valve head toward its retracted position so that a dependable fluid-tight seal is provided between the internal wall 93 of the valve head and the end 62. It is in this regard that the dual hardnesses of the valve head are significant. In seating the valve head, the control rod can be rotated three or four more times after the outer surface of the valve head has been brought into contact with the valve seat. Because the inner portion 100 of the valve head is of softer material than the outer portion '101, the flaps 97 are drawn into extremely tight relationship with the valve engaging end portion 62 of the rod. At the same time, because the outer portion of the valve head is of hard material, this additional rotation of the rod after preliminary seating of the valve head does not damage nor appreciably wear the outer surfaceof the valve head.

It will be evident from the foregoing description of the valve 18 that the body 39 has an outer surface of revolution, including the surfaces 47 and 92, which is substantially uniformly spaced inwardly from the housing 19 through substantially the entire length of the body and which is concentric to the rod .60. Further, it is to be noted that the housing and the body deflne'an annular fluid chamber 106 therebetween establishing fluid communication between the inlet and outlet end portions 20 and 30 of the housing. The cross-sectional area of the chamber is greater than the cross-sectional area of the inlet end portion so that as fluid travels upwardly through the valve, it is not restricted in its travel. As a result turbulence in the fluid passing through the valve is minimized.

The increased area of the chamber 106 together with the shape of the valve body 39 and the valve housing 19 increases the volume of water handled. Further, the streamlined shape of the valve body minimizes friction and turbulence in the water passing through the valve. Preferably, the body as well as the internal surface of the housing is porcelainized to minimize the formation of barnacles and other growths which would increase frictional resistance to the passage of water and minimize the cross-sectional area of the chamber.

The hydrant also includes a tubular adapter duct 110 having a lower radial flange 111 connected to the upper flange 3-1 of the housing 19 by bolts 22 and nuts 23 and an upper radial flange 112. The duct is also embedded in the ground 12 and is in coaxial alignment with the valve housing. The duct may be of any desired length within reasonable limits and, as an indication of this, it is shown broken away in the middle in Fig. 1. The duct has an upwardly disposed internal socket providing an annular ledge 114, for a purpose to be described, and a lower drainage outlet 115. A ball check drain valve 116 is connected to the drain outlet of the duct and is adapted to close when fluid under predetermined pressure is carried in the duct but to open upon predetermined reduction in fluid pressure.' Essentially, when the valve 18 is closed, the drain valve opens to allow any remaining fluid in the duct to drain outwardly therefrom. When the valve 18 is open, however, the drain valve is closed to prevent leakage of fluid from the hydrant through the duct.

' A mounting bracket 120 includes an annular hub 121 and a plurality of arms 123 rigidly connected to the hub and radially outwardly extended therefrom in substantially equally circumferentially spaced relation to each other. The arms rest on the ledge 114 whereby the hub is concentric to the duct 110. A split bearing sleeve 125, including a pair of semi-cylindrical segments 122 for assembly and disassembly convenience, is releasably fitted in the hub of the mounting bracket, is also concentric to the duct 11d, and has a flange rested on the 'hub.

An elongated cylindrical connecting rod 130 includes a lower downwardly disposed female socket 131,-best seen in Fig. 4, of rectangular cross section releasably nonrotatably fitted over the lug 64 on the control rod 60 and an upper end 132 rotatably fitted in and extended through the bearing sleeve 125 and projected upwardly therefrom. A collar 134 is secured to the upper end of the connecting rod and provides an upwardly divergent frusto-pyramidal socket 135 and an upwardly convergent frusto-conical end face 136. A resiliently compressible cushion 137 is fitted within the socket 135.

The hydrant 10 also includes an elongated tubular'barrel 145 having a lower section 146 providingfa' lower radial flange 147 connected to the upperflange '1'12ofthe duct 110 by means of nuts 23 and'bolts 22. The lower; section also has an external annular groove extended in circumscribing relation to the lower section adjacent to the-lower flange and defining a weakened break line in'a plane substantially normal to the barrel. The lower sec tion further provides a lower discharge spout 150 and an upper radial flange 151. p

The barrel 145 provides an upper cap 155 having a lower radial flange 156 connected to the ,upper flange 151 by means of bolts 22 and nuts 23, an upper disa charge spout 158, and a bearing 159 disposedcoaxially of the barrel andtherefore of'the duct 1192mm, valve An elongated valve control key 164 provides an upper cylindrical journal portion 165 rotatably journaled in the bearing 159, a lower portion 166 of rectangular cross section, an upper wrench lug 167, and an endwardly tapered frusto-pyramidal lower end 168. The journal portion has a radial shoulder 165 in opposed relation to a lower vend face of the bearing 159. Suitable packing is provided between the bearing 159 and the key to prevent leakage. The key is, of course, in coaxial alignment with the connecting rod 130 and its lower end is complementarily, releasably, non-rotatably fitted in the socket 135, as best seen in Fig. 2. An upper collar 169 is con nected, as by welding, to the lower end of the key and provides a downwardly divergent frusto-conical end face 170 in closely adjacent spaced relation to the end face 136 of the lower collar 134 and complementary thereto.

Gaskets 173 are provided between the flanges 13 and 21, 31 and 111, 112 and 147, and 151 and 156. Further, such parts as the valve seat 36 are preferably made of non-corrosive metal, such as brass, for increased life and reduced maintenance.

Operation The operation of the described embodiment of the subject invention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarized at this point.

When the valve 18 is closed, as illustrated in Fig. 1, and assuming that the conductor 11 is connected to a source of water under pressure, not shown, Water fills the valve housing 19 around and under the valve head and bracket 71 through the passageways 54. There is no Water in the barrel 145 or in the adapter duct be cause of the drainage valve 116.

In order to'open the valve 18, and assuming that one of the covers 161 or 162 is removed to enable release of water from hydrant" 10, the key 166 is rotated thereby to rotate-the connecting rod and the control rod 160. This moves the bracket 71 downwardly on the control rod carrying the valve head 90 downwardly therewith. As soon as the valve head moves just slightly away from the valve seat 36, water passes between the valve seat and the valve head so that fluid pressures are equalized on opposite sides of the valve head so as to facilitate continued rotation of the key andretraction of the valve head. Although the flaps 97 vfrictionally resist retraction of the valve head, nevertheless they are yieldable and slide downwardly along the frusto-conical end 62. Further, as the valve head retracts, theinner wall 96 of the valve head 90 and the end 62 of the rod move into spaced relation to each other, as best seen in Fig. 4.

When the valve 18 is open, as illustrated in Fig. 4, water passes upwardly from the conductor 11 through the chamber 106 and the valve seat 36 into the adapter duct 110 and up into the barrel for discharge out one of the spouts or 158. It is again to be noted that as'the fluid passes from the inlet end portion 20 In order to close the valve 18, the key 166 is rotated in an. opposite direction thereby to move the guiding bracket 71 and therefore the valve head 90'up-wardly relative to the control rod 60. Again, it is to be noted that fluid pressures are equalized on opposite sides of the valve head initially because of the existence of fluid within the annular section 42 ofthe core 40 through the passageway 54 and thereafter because the guiding bracket plate 73 is lifted off from the core. As the valve headmoves upwardly, the inner wall 93 graduallyfrictionally engages the end 62 in fluid-tight engagement. As soon as the outer surface 92 of the valve head contacts thevalve seat 36, the fluid passage through'the valve seat is precluded. Thereafter fluid pressure on the bottom of the valve head is greater than thaton top. The upward surge of-pressure on the bottom of the valve head assists rotation of the rod in forcing the valve head to seat dependably and tightly upwardly into engagement with the valve seat.

It will be evident, therefore, that the valve head 19 is in eifect jacked upwardly into engagement with the valve seat 36 by rotation of the control rod 60. By means of the threaded interconnection between the bracket 71 and the control rod, the valve head is thrust up against the valve seat. The upper thrust is against thevvalve seat while the lower thrust is borne by the bearing 52 in the socket 51 of the core 40. Once the valve head is seated, however, the thread pressure is at a minimum since the water'pressure tends to hold the valve head against the seat. At this point it is also to be observed that the control rod, the connecting rod 130, and the key 166 rotate only and do not move longitudinally since these members are held at opposite ends by the core 40 and the bearing 159 in the cap 155.

Assuming that the valve 18 is buried an considerable depth in the ground 12, it may be desired to have access to the valve for repair, replacement, or other maintenance. If so, the barrel 145 is separated from the adapter duct 110 by removing the bolts 22 and nuts 23 joining their respective flanges. The barrel can be easily removed inasmuch as the key 166 and the connecting rod 130 are readily separable. Thereafter, a wrench, not shown, is extended downwardly through the duct and provides prongs which project into the sockets 37 in the seat '36 whereby the seatis .unthreaded and removed or at least released from the valve housing 19. Thereafter by grasping the connecting rod or the bracket 120, the valve head 90, the base plate 80, and the guiding bracket 71 are pulled upwardly through the duct and removed therefrom. Obviously, these parts are replaced by following a reverse procedure.

Assuming the hydrant is in the condition illustrated in Fig. l with the valve 18 closed, if the barrel 145 is accidentally struck by an automobile, truck, or other vehicle, and the impact is suflicient, it will fracture along the weakened line defined by the annular groove 149. As a result of the impact and breakage, the barrel will fall to the ground 12. To facilitate upset of the barrel, the end faces 136 and 170 of the collars 134 and 169 engage and act as a fulcrum for the key tending to lift the key upwardly and outwardly of the socket 135. Inasmuch as there is no water in the duct and since all of the water is contained in the valve housing 19 below the valve head 90, there is no danger of flooding as a result of this breakage of the barrel.

If the hydrant barrel 145 breaks when the valve 18 is open, the barrel, as before, falls over and rolls to one side of the duct 1 10 on the ground. Water in the valve housing 19 and the duct rushes upwardly out of the remaining portion of the barrel onto the ground surrounding the hydrant. Inasmuch as there is nothing new preventing movement of the control and connecting rods 130 and 60 upwardly, the upward movement of the water forces the;valve head 90 against the seat 36 thereby automatically closing the valve and shutting off the flow of water. There may be some leakage between the valve head and the control rod 60 but this is minimal in comparison with the large volume of water blocked by seating of the valve head in the valve seat. Such minimal leakage may even be desirable as a'means of signaling the existence of the broken hydrant. Although it has not usually been necessary, it may be desired to employ a relatively light coil spring, not shown, under compression between the lower conical section 43 of the core 40 and the guiding bracket plate 73 in circumscribing relation to the control rod 60. Such a spring insures that the pressure below the valve head is greater than the pressure above the valve head when the key 16 6 is disconnected from the connecting rod so as to allow free upward movement of the valve head.

It.is to be noted that in a sense. the. conductor..11,. the

housing 19, the'duc't 110, and the barrel 145 constitute an elongated composite housing; that the control rod 69, the connecting rod 130, and the key 166 constitute a composite control rod having separable portions; and that so considered, this composite control rod is rotatably journaled at opposite ends thereof in the bearings 52 and 159 which are located generally adjacent to the inlet and outlet end portions of the composite housing.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that a hydrant has been provided which incorporate a valve having several improved characteristics and advantages. The danger and inconveniences of flooding of a hydrant are prevented, the volume of water capable of being handled by the hydrant is increased, the parts of the hydrant are easy and accessible to service, the valve is easy to turn on and oil even when working under water pressures, leakage is precluded, and turbulence in the flow of water is minimized. Although the valve has been described in association with a fire hydrant, it will be evident that it has other application for controlling fluid flow particularly where similar problems to those described above are involved.

Of additional advantage is the adaptability of the hydrant 10 to various climates. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the hydrant is adapted for use where the ground freezes in the winter. Where this does not occur, the adapter duct 110, the connecting rod 130, and the bracket are removed and the flanges 147 and 31 connected directly together. As such, the lower end 168 of the key 166 connects directly to the control rod 60. For this purpose, a female socket, not shown, is provided in place of the male lug 64 for receiving the lower end 168.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in What is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom Within the scope of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a fluid valve, an elongated housing providing an inlet adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure and an outlet in longitudinally spaced relation to the inlet for controlled release of fluid; an elongated valve control rod within the housing having a mounted end, an opposite frusto-conical valve head seating and disposed within said outlet and divergently endwardly extended toward said outlet, and a threaded section intermediate said ends; means connected to the housing journaling the mounted end of the rod for rotatable movement within the housing; an annular valve head screw threadably mounted on the threaded section of the rod and including an internal frusto-conical wall complementary to the frusto-conical end of the rod, circumscribing the rod, and divergently extended toward said outlet; and means non-rotatably, axially, slidably mounting the valve head within the housing for movement incident to rotation of the rod between a position seated in the outlet of the housing wherein the frusto-conical wall of the valve head is in fluid-tight sealing engagement with the frustoconical end of the rod and a retracted position in spaced relation to the outlet of the housing.

2. The valve of claim 1 wherein the internal wall of the valve head has an annular groove endwardly divergently extended toward the outlet of the housing and thereby providing an annular wedge-shaped flap in fluid sealing engagement with the rod and freely slidable thereover during movement of the valve head toward said seated position but yieldably frictionally resisting movement of the valve head toward said retracted position.

3. In a fire hydrant including a tubular fluid conducting barrel adapted to be mounted in upstanding position on the ground andbeing subjectto upset incident to application of impact thereagainst, the barrel having a lower endand arr-upper substantially coaxial bearing, an'elonwithin the housing in axially spaced relationship to the valve seat and substantially concentric thereto; an elongated Valve control rod substantially coaxially extended through the valve seat having a lower end rotatably mounted in the lower bearing, an upper end extended upwardly on the opposite side of the valve seat from the lower bearing, and -a plurality of threads intermediate said ends, the bearing precluding downward movement of the rod relative to the housing; an elongated key longitumum diameter adjacent to the valve seat, and an internal concentric frusto-conical wall circumscribing an axial bore through which the rod is extended and diver-gently extended toward said 'outlet end portion, the internal wall including a plurality of longitudinally spaced annular fluid sealing flaps inwardly extended toward the journal end of the rod whereby upon rotation of the rod in one direction, the valve head is moved into seated position in fluidtight engagement with the seat and the internal wall tightly 'frictionally engages the frusto-conical end of the 7 rod, and upon reverse rotation of the rod, the valve head dinally substantially coaxially extended through the barrel having a lower end relatively adjacent to the upper end of the control rod and an upper end rotatably mounted in the upper bearing in the barrel including a shoulder engaging the upper bearing for preventing the upper axial movement of the key relative to the barrel; means longitudinally separably connecting the lower end of thekey to the upper end of the control rod; an annular valve head fitted in circumscribing relation to the valve rod;

mounting means screw-threadably interconnecting the valve head and the control rod intermediate its ends; and means engaging the mounting means for preventing rotatable movement of the mounting means and the valve head relative to the control rod but for permitting axial movement of the mounting means and the valve head relative to the control rod incident to rotation thereof for moving the valve head between a closed position in contact with the valve seat and an open position in axially spaced relation to the valve seat and whereby when the key and control rod are separated upon upset of the barrel, the valve head is urged upwardly into the valveseat in fluid-tight engagement therewith by a fluid flowing upwardly in the housing from the inlet toward the outlet end thereof. p

4. A fluid valve comprising an elongated housing concentrically circumscribing an elongated longitudinal axis for the valve, having opposite axially aligned inlet and outlet end portions of substantially uniform diameter, said inlet portion being adapted for connection to a source of fluid under pressure, and an intermediate barrel-shaped portion interconnecting the inlet and outlet end portions and having a maximum diameter greater than the diameter of said end portions; an annular valve seat releasably fitted in the outlet end portion; an elongated valve core having an annular section, and a conical section integrally coaxially extended from the annular section, the conical section providing an internal socket opening into said annular section, the core having a maximum diameter less than the diameter of the intermediate barrel-shaped portion; means concentrically rigidly mounting the core in the intermediate portion of the housing with the conical section extended toward said inletend portion; an elongated valve control rod extended coaxially of the housing within the core having a cylindrical'journal end rotatably received in the socket, an opposite frusto-conical end divergently extended outwardly through the outlet end portion, and an intermediate threaded portion; ears rigidly connected internally of the cylindrical section of the core and diametrically oppositely extended toward the rod; a guiding bracket having a hub screw-threaded on the threaded portion of the rod, a plate rigidly radially extended from the hub, and pairs of spaced substantially parallel legs rigidly extended from the plate substantially diametrically thereof and slidably straddling the ears whereby the bracket is limited to movement axially of the housing incident to rotation of the rod; and an annular valve head of resiliently flexible and compressible material having a base connected to the plate, an outer rounded surface of revolution providing a maximum diameter at the base and tapered inwardly toward a mini-- is moved into retracted position out of engagement from the seat, the flaps freely allowing movement of the head into seated position but yieldably frictionally resisting movement into retracted position, the core and the valve head when in retracted position being substantially uniformly circumferentially spaced from the housing longitudinally thereof and providing with the housing an annular chamber establishing fluid communication between the inlet and outlet end portions and of greater cross-sectional area than the cross-sectional area of the inlet end portion. I

5. The valve of claim 4 wherein a base plate is releasably conneeted to th bracket plate and secured to the base of the valve head; and wherein a reinforcing ring is rigidly endwardly extended from the base plate in circumscribing relation to the rod, embedded in the valve head, and divides the head into generally radially inward and outward portions, the inner portion of the head being of softer material than the outer portion.

6. The valve of claim 4 wherein the core provides a fluid passageway therein for admitting fluid from the inlet end portion into the cylindrical section of the core and into contact with the plate in the guiding bracket so as to enable equalization of fluid pressures on opposite ends of the valve head.

7. In a valve, an elongated tubular fluid conducting housing having a longitudinal axis, an inlet section adapted to admit fluid under pressure into the housing, an outletsection separably connected in axial alignment with the inlet section, and an annular valve seat concentrically circumscribing the axis and located in the inlet section of the housing; axially spaced inlet and outlet bearings respectively rigidly concentrically mounted in the inlet and outlet sections of the housing and with the valve .r

seat between said bearings; an elongated valve control rod extended substantially coaxially within the housing and substantially concentrically through the valve seat, the rod including an outlet portion rotatably journaled in the outlet bearing, the rod also including an inlet portion rotatably journaled in the inlet bearing, the inlet and outlet portions of the rod having adjacent inner ends separably interconnected for unitary rotation of said rod portions when so interconnected, the bearings precluding axial movement of the control rod within the housing when said rod portions are interconnected, said inlet rod portion being releasable from the inlet bearing for movement in a direction toward the outlet bearing upon separation of said rod portions; an annular valve head circurnscribing the inlet portion of the controlrod on the opposite side of the valve seat from said outlet housing section; and meansmounted in the housing and connecting the valve head to the inlet portion of the control rod for axial adjustable movement relative to the rod incident to rotation of the rod and between a position in fluid-tight engagement with the seat and a' position in axially spaced relation to the seat on the opposite 11 thereby providing an automatic valve closure incident to such rod and housing separation.

8. The valve of claim 7 wherein the housing is upstanding with the outlet section above the inlet section; wherein an annular lower collar is rigidly connected to the inner end of the inlet portion of the control rod, the lower collar providing an upwardly disposed socket and an annular upwardly disposed end face circumscribing the socket; wherein the inner end of the outlet portion of the control rod is releasibly non-rotatably downwardly fitted in the socket of the lower collar; and wherein an upper collar is rigidly connected to the inner end of the outlet portion of the control rod in opposed adjacent spaced relation to the end face of the lower collar whereby upon application of force transversely against said outlet rod portion and outlet housing section causing separation and misalignment of said rod portions and housing sections, respectively, the upper collar rollingly abuts the lower collar providing a fulcrum about which the outlet rod portion tilts to lift said inner end out of the socket and to facilitate rapid dependable separation of the rod portions.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Peck Dec. 16, 1879 McCannon Ian. 22, 1884 Koenig Aug. 24, 1909 Lyons Oct. 24, 1911 Miller Nov. 7, 1916 Emerson -2 Apr. 7, 1931 Moody Sept. 29, 1931 Banks Jan. 23, 1934 Lofton Oct. 22, 1935 Kerr Apr. 6, 1937 Boyles June 29, 1937 OBrien July 22, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS France of 1858 Great Britain of 1867 Great Britain of 1901 France Oct. 29, 1956 Canada Apr. 16, 1957 

